Apple Watch Series 12 Stumbles at $399 as Battery Swings and 2 Flagship Features Slip
Updated
Updated · Macworld · Oct 6
Apple Watch Series 12 Stumbles at $399 as Battery Swings and 2 Flagship Features Slip
2 articles · Updated · Macworld · Oct 6
Summary
Two weeks of testing found Apple’s new smartwatch strong on health tracking and comfort, but undermined by uneven battery life, occasional sluggishness and spontaneous resets.
Battery results swung from 51 hours in one run to 40 hours in another, while 30-minute charging reached only 58% to 72%—well short of Apple’s 80% claim.
Two marquee Audio Intelligence tools—Live Rewind and Siri Recap—were missing at launch, and broader Readiness integration still depends on the iOS 27.2 Health app update.
New sensors and the Readiness app were the clearest wins: heart rate is tracked every 5 seconds, HRV is measured 24 times more often, and the watch keeps a $399 starting price.